Analysing Cartoons

Analysing Cartoons
When describing a cartoon it is wise to proceed in a certain order. Before you start writing, get prepared by
following the three steps below:
1. Study the cartoon carefully and try to figure out what message the artist wants to convey with it.
(Unless you know the intended message, you cannot describe the cartoon appropriately!!!)
2. Take a closer look at the details and decide whether they contribute to the message or not. Only
those aspects that contribute to the message are relevant and therefore have to be described later
on.
3. Make a list of all the relevant details.
Once you have completed the first three steps, you can start describing what is going on in the cartoon.
4. Describe where the situation is taking place, which characters are involved, what they are doing and
what they are talking about. If possible, refer to the artist and the picture’s title, date and source of
publication.
Make sure you mention all the relevant details and leave out everything that does not contribute to the
understanding of the message.
Keep in mind that for the reader the situation shown in the cartoon is happening right now. Therefore the
correct tense for every action shown in the cartoon is the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE (ING-FORM)! The setting
is described by using the SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE.
When referring to what is being said, thought, or written in the cartoon, try to use your own words as far as
possible. Just copying the content of a speech bubble (Sprechblase), thought bubble (Denkblase), poster,
banner, sign or caption (Bildunterschrift) is not a good idea! Make sure your descriptive part only describes
what's going on in the picture and does not contain any sort of interpretation.
Once you have described everything you consider relevant, start a new paragraph (new line!) and
interpret the cartoon.
5. Explain what the cartoonist wants to express with the cartoon.
In most cases cartoons contain a clear message. The cartoonist criticises people's behaviour, comments on
trends in our society or just makes fun of certain people. Cartoons are often critical of real people, current
events or trends, so it is important to recognize and identify them: point out the event or issue the cartoon
refers to; if the cartoon is a caricature of a well-known person, it is important to say who it is. Keep in mind
that the characters in the cartoon represent groups of people in most cases. In some cartoons a famous
person (e.g. politician, sportsman, celebrity...) is illustrated.
Point out how far the details you described in the first part contribute to the message.
6. After writing your interpretation, read your full description carefully and make sure it really tells the
reader what's going on in the cartoon. Keep in mind that after reading your description, a person
who has never seen the cartoon before must be able to imagine the situation shown in the cartoon.
Conclusion:
7. Say whether you think the picture or cartoon is effective or not and give reasons for your opinion
(refer to the quality of the cartoon, the colours used, the depiction of people, symbols,…)
8. Read your full description once again and correct your mistakes (grammar, spelling, vocabulary).
Cartoons – useful expressions
In my opinion the cartoon is supposed to …
The cartoonist may want to convey that…
His message might be that…
Perhaps his intention is to show that…
The cartoon implies that…
At first glance one might think that…
but a closer analysis shows that…
You could draw the conclusion that…
to refer to…/ a reference to…
to allude to an event/ an allusion to sth.
a speech bubble/ thought bubble
a funny caption
on the (visual) surface
on the figurative/ symbolic level
X stands for/ symbolizes…
to exaggerate character traits
a slight/ gross exaggeration
a satirical description (of)
to satirize sth.
to criticize the behaviour of politicians
critical towards…
sharp criticism of…
an outspoken critic (of)
to disapprove of sth.
strong disapproval (of)
to make fun of/ to poke fun at sb./sth.
to ridicule sb.
heavy sarcasm
to make a sarcastic comment (on)
Meiner Meinung nach soll die Karikatur…
Der Karikaturist will vielleicht vermitteln, dass…
Seine Botschaft könnte sein, dass…
Vielleicht ist es seine Absicht zu zeigen, dass…
Die Karikatur deutet daraufhin/impliziert, dass…
Auf den ersten Blick könnte man meinen, dass…
aber eine genauere Analyse zeigt, dass…
Man könnte den Schluss ziehen, dass…
sich beziehen auf…/ ein Hinweis auf…
auf ein Ereignis anspielen/ eine Anspielung auf etw.
eine Sprechblase/ Gedankenblase
eine komische Bildunterschrift
auf der (visuellen) Oberfläche
auf der übertragenen/ symbolischen Ebene
X steht für/ symbolisiert…
Charaktereigenschaften übertreiben
eine leichte/ große Übertreibung
eine satirische Beschreibung (von)
etwas satirisch darstellen
das Verhalten von Politikern kritisieren
kritisch gegenüber…
scharfe Kritik an…
ein freimütiger Kritiker (von)
etwas missbilligen
starke Ablehnung (von)
sich über jemand/etwas lustig machen
jemanden lächerlich machen
beißender Sarkasmus
einen sarkastischen Kommentar machen
in the background
in the top-left corner
in the top-right corner
in the centre
in the foreground
in the bottom-left corner
in the bottom-right corner
Step 1 - What is the general message?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Steps 2 / 3 - Which details are relevant and which ones are irrelevant?
relevant aspects
irrelevant aspects
Step 4 - What is going on in the cartoon?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Step 5 - What is the message of the cartoon?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
NOW WRITE YOUR ANALYSIS!
Analyse the following cartoon “The Burger King Statue of Obesity”:
Analyse the following cartoon “Billy Elliot”:
Annotations:
obesity – over-weight
(to) relate to – (to) understand
Record level – highest level
Telly – television